Emmys 2017: When political comedy scored huge
This year, the politics couldn't help but make its way onto the Emmy Awards stage.
Also, when it came to roasting United States President Donald Trump, the Hollywood glitterati did not seem to hold back.
It all started with host Stephen Colbert's opening song - an old-school production number straight out of 'The Music Man' - and continued through the night.
During his opening monologue, the comedian took jab at the Trump presidency several times, including one where he indicated that his prior Emmy losses for "Celebrity Apprentice" somehow influenced his decision to run for President-and eventual win.
"Even during the campaign, Trump would not let it go," Colbert said. "But he didn't because unlike the presidency, Emmys go to the winners of the popular vote. He was nominated multiple times for 'Celebrity Apprentice' but he never won. If he had won an Emmy, I bet he never would have run for president. Trump is like Walter White. He's just like Walter and much Whiter."
The joke came with a clip from one of the 2016 Presidential debates as well, wherein Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton addressed Trump's previous quips about losing at the Emmy's.
The Emmy joke didn't end there - former White House press secretary Sean Spicer surprised many in the crowd with his cameo appearance during Colbert's opening monologue, satirizing the much-publicized debate over the size of the crowd at President Trump's inauguration ceremony.
Moreover, while accepting Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for 'The Crown,' John Lithgow said, "In these crazy times, [Winston Churchill's] life as an old man reminds me of what courage and leadership in government really looks like."
Later, pointing out Robert DeNiro in the audience, Colbert noted that the actor had been nominated for his role in the HBO movie 'Wizard of Lies' (about Bernard Madoff). He further joked, "Which is, yessss ... which I believe was the Sean Spicer story. Thank you for being here, Sean!"
Also, Kate McKinnon's acceptance, who picked up the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Award at Sunday's Gala, went political with a nod to Hillary Clinton.
She said, "Being part of this season of Saturday Night Live is the most meaningful thing I will ever do. Congratulations to our incredible cast. On a very personal note, I want to say thank you to Hillary Clinton for your grace and your grit."
Next came a hysterical 'Westworld'-inspired sketch from the Emmys.
Jeffrey Wright reprised his role from the HBO sci-fi drama for a bit that saw the awards show host as a robotic host, who was stripped down to his bare bottom opposite the delightful Tituss Burgess.
Wright's Bernard began his analysis of the butt naked Colbert in a bowtie by asking the quintessential question, "Have you ever questioned the nature of your reality?"
"Every day since Nov. 8," he said, referring to the day Donald Trump was elected President of the united States.
Then, Alec Baldwin, while accepting Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for playing Trump on SNL, said, "I suppose I should say, at long last, Mr. President, here is your Emmy ... I want to thank my wife; we had three children in three years and we didn't have a child last year in the SNL season and I wonder if there's a correlation there - all you men out there, you put that orange wig on, it's birth control, trust me."
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin too joined the fun while presenting the award for Supporting Actor in a Limited Series along with Dolly Parton - a Nine to Five reunion at the podium: "Well, back in 1980, we refused to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying hypocritical bigot ... and it's 2017, we still refuse to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying hypocritical bigot."
While presenting for Reality Series, Kumail Nanjiani noted, "This award celebrates people who frantically race across international borders, and who can scale walls really really quickly. In other words, the President's worst nightmare."
Donald Glover, who bagged two Emmy honours, said while accepting Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for 'Atlanta': "I want to thank Trump for making black people No. 1 on the most-oppressed list - he's the reason I'm probably up here."
Charlie Brooker stated while accepting an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series: "I've heard 2017 described as being trapped in one long, unending Black Mirror episode. But I like to think if I had written it, it wouldn't be so on the nose? With all the Nazis and the hate?"
Tatiana Maslany said while presenting the Lead Actress in a Drama award: "[Selena Meyer as President] would be great! She doesn't tweet."
-ANI
